Cubs Spring training thread

[beckdawg]

I'm pulling for Heyward but Damn, he having his worse ST ever.
He just 2 for 25 .080

Their in Arizona, hitters heaven.
Don't take much to get a few hits there



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Supposedly he's been getting more loft on the ball and making better contact. I'm not trying to shine up a turd but largely the biggest complaint from people last year was he only ever hit weak ground balls. They don't really keep advanced stats in the spring training games so it's hard to see his contact type percents as well as ground ball rate. I haven't caught a ton of games as I largely don't care about ST games but if he indeed has a higher fly ball rate the thing to consider is your BABIP can get pretty low because flyballs that aren't HR/into the gaps are generally easy outs. If my math is right he's siting at a .059 BABIP right now.

Now as mentioned it could be just balls not being line drives which is why I'd like to see the contact rates. But even if we assume that's the case, the difference between a line drive and an easy pop up can often be just slightly missing a pitch which given he's reworked his swing wouldn't be that surprising. So while I get the pessimism just think that it's worth pointing this out.

 

[Omeletpants]

I'm all for giving that overpaid, piece of shit a fresh start this season.

 

[chibears55]

Supposedly he's been getting more loft on the ball and making better contact. I'm not trying to shine up a turd but largely the biggest complaint from people last year was he only ever hit weak ground balls. They don't really keep advanced stats in the spring training games so it's hard to see his contact type percents as well as ground ball rate. I haven't caught a ton of games as I largely don't care about ST games but if he indeed has a higher fly ball rate the thing to consider is your BABIP can get pretty low because flyballs that aren't HR/into the gaps are generally easy outs. If my math is right he's siting at a .059 BABIP right now.

Now as mentioned it could be just balls not being line drives which is why I'd like to see the contact rates. But even if we assume that's the case, the difference between a line drive and an easy pop up can often be just slightly missing a pitch which given he's reworked his swing wouldn't be that surprising. So while I get the pessimism just think that it's worth pointing this out.

A few times I've got to see him hit, it been mostly pop ups and Ks...

I still think he way too far off plate...
Looks like the bat comes across plate on a weird angle and he doesn't get good contact on ball.


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[beckdawg]

A few times I've got to see him hit, it been mostly pop ups and Ks...

I still think he way too far off plate...
Looks like the bat comes across plate on a weird angle and he doesn't get good contact on ball.


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Pop ups as in infield flies or did the ball go to the outfield? Like I said I haven't watched much spring training but if it's balls going to the OF even if they are outs I'm sort of fine with that because as mentioned he's elevating. Infield flies on the other hand are very not great and would be discouraging.

 

[brett05]

I am so looking forward to the big league debuts of both Ian Happs and Eloy Jiminez ....
Future looking bright

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As long as you are comfortable with watching them play elsewhere. I can't see either ever being a Cub and be included in trades.

 

[chibears55]

Pop ups as in infield flies or did the ball go to the outfield? Like I said I haven't watched much spring training but if it's balls going to the OF even if they are outs I'm sort of fine with that because as mentioned he's elevating. Infield flies on the other hand are very not great and would be discouraging.

Mostly infield..

a friend and I were talking the other day about him..
Joking about how he probably leads the league in popping the ball up not only in play but those that go foul..

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[chibears55]

As long as you are comfortable with watching them play elsewhere. I can't see either ever being a Cub and be included in trades.

Doubt they trade Jimenez..

Heyward will be gone after 2018 season...
Plus
I know I'm the minority in this but I still think Schwarber could be traded eventually to an AL team.

Happs???

Depends on which combo of Him Baez and Russell they prefer starting up the middle next year.

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[brett05]

Doubt they trade Jimenez..

Heyward will be gone after 2018 season...
Plus
I know I'm the minority in this but I still think Schwarber could be traded eventually to an AL team.

Happs???

Depends on which combo of Him Baez and Russell they prefer starting up the middle next year.

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The Cubs aren't eating $100 million. Heyward is all Cub.

 

[chibears55]

The Cubs aren't eating $100 million. Heyward is all Cub.

He can opt out or they can trade him after 2018 season....
So
Its not 100% that their stuck with him til 2023

Giving his age, I'm going to lean towards him opting out and looking for a longer contract..
Of course he needs to show some improvement with the bat by then..
Otherwise
If 21 YO Jiminez is ready to bust out then, I don't think the Cubs will have a problem eating some or most of that contract to move Heyward.

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[brett05]

He can opt out or they can trade him after 2018 season....
So
Its not 100% that their stuck with him til 2023

Giving his age, I'm going to lean towards him opting out and looking for a longer contract..
Of course he needs to show some improvement with the bat by then..
Otherwise
If 21 YO Jiminez is ready to bust out then, I don't think the Cubs will have a problem eating some or most of that contract to move Heyward.

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He's not opting out. The pay won't be there.
The only way is to be traded and the Cubs will need to move a boat load of cash in on that deal. I just don't see anyway he's not a Cub realistically

 

[Hammer]

If Heyward is able to hold his own defensively at CF, he would be (somewhat) valuable even without good/great batting numbers, although his contract would be waaaaay over his true value.

CF Heyward
RF Jimenez
LF Schwarber
3B Bryant
SS Russell
2B Baez
1B Rizzo
C Contreras

That lineup would be crazy good from bat power perspective, plus they could package Happ, Almora, Candelario and some other spare parts to acquire TOR pitcher (that this team will need beyond 2017 season).

 

[chibears55]

He's not opting out. The pay won't be there.
The only way is to be traded and the Cubs will need to move a boat load of cash in on that deal. I just don't see anyway he's not a Cub realistically

No one can say 100% now if he going to opt out or not after 2018...
He has a good year in 2018 and given his age, he going to most likely test the market looking to extend the years..
He continues to play great defense and at 29 then, there will be teams interested in adding him if his bat comes around.

I would hope the Cubs then won't be foolish to trade away a potential future 21 YO stud to keep a 29 YO who reached his peak because they don't want to eat salary in a trade.
Especially with a new tv deal near...

With all the hitting talent this team has in system that close to ready along with the young players on roster, its going to be an interesting next 2 seasons to not only watch them play but see who they keep/move and who they get in return to keep them contending year after year...

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[brett05]

No one can say 100% now if he going to opt out or not after 2018...
He has a good year in 2018 and given his age, he going to most likely test the market looking to extend the years..
He continues to play great defense and at 29 then, there will be teams interested in adding him if his bat comes around.

I would hope the Cubs then won't be foolish to trade away a potential future 21 YO stud to keep a 29 YO who reached his peak because they don't want to eat salary in a trade.
Especially with a new tv deal near...

With all the hitting talent this team has in system that close to ready along with the young players on roster, its going to be an interesting next 2 seasons to not only watch them play but see who they keep/move and who they get in return to keep them contending year after year...

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It's not to keep Heyward. It's to get what the team really needs, pitching.

 

[Hammer]

I'd say that Eloy Jimenez is borderline untouchable at this point, except if some crazy opportunity to trade for a true ace (think Chris Sale) comes around, but they definitely won't undervalue him, or trade him for lesser than ace level quality pitchers (think Jose Quintana).

 

[TC in Mississippi]

I'd say that Eloy Jimenez is borderline untouchable at this point, except if some crazy opportunity to trade for a true ace (think Chris Sale) comes around, but they definitely won't undervalue him, or trade him for lesser than ace level quality pitchers (think Jose Quintana).

I think the odds are pretty good that Jimenez makes it to the show as a Cub but you're severely undervaluing Quintana. While he may not be an ace he is a solid TOR pitcher and one of the most consistent in MLB which in some ways is more valuable than an ace. That said he's not being traded to the Cubs.

 

[chibears55]

It's not to keep Heyward. It's to get what the team really needs, pitching.

They have other options available besides trading their youngest best prospect to get pitching...

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[TC in Mississippi]

They have other options available besides trading their youngest best prospect to get pitching...

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I'll bite, how? Yes they could sign pitching. If they pass on Arrieta, which I think they both should and will, they could sign Yu Darvish or Johnny Cueto (who will no doubt opt out of his deal after this year) but without another cost controlled option ion the rotation besides Hendricks they'll have a hard time paying the position players as they start to come due. Phase 1 was clearly pay for pitching and ride young, cheap talent augmented by a few veterans while phase 2 is just as clearly going to be to build a (mostly) cost controlled pitching staff while they pay for their positional talent. I don't believe this is going to be a team that ever goes much over the luxury tax and if they play their hand right they shouldn't have to.To follow this plan they'll have to trade young talent for pitching. I see little way around it.

 

[brett05]

I'd say that Eloy Jimenez is borderline untouchable at this point, except if some crazy opportunity to trade for a true ace (think Chris Sale) comes around, but they definitely won't undervalue him, or trade him for lesser than ace level quality pitchers (think Jose Quintana).

Don't worry, lesser pitchers like Jose aren't settling for something as low as Eloy.

 

[brett05]

They have other options available besides trading their youngest best prospect to get pitching...

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And that plus a quarter will get you a cup of coffee. You aren't getting TOR with sub specs. Sorry.

 

[brett05]

Stop the presses, TC and I are in total agreement. Care to join the darkside? ray: